ICC likely to allow banned players to play domestic matches before punishment ends

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that it is likely to allow banned players to feature in domestic matches a few months before their suspension expires.

The provision in the players' code of conduct would come up for approval in next month's board meeting in Dubai and might specifically benefit Pakistan's pace-man Mohammad Aamer whose five year ban expires in August next year.

ICC chief executive David Richardson confirmed that rules on banned players are likely to be relaxed. He said that the revised code is being discussed in the meetings and hopefully they could bring it to the public in finality in the November meeting, Sport24 reported.

Richardson said that there is a provision now in the revised code which would allow a player who has been banned internationally to play domestic cricket a certain period up from his ban coming to an end.

Under the process, if the provision were approved, a banned player would have to apply with the ICC to get permission to feature in the domestic cricket.

The ICC would seek recommendations from its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit as well as from the home board and the ICC Board before clearing the player to feature in domestic matches.